Drip coffee maker with transformable filter support

Abstract

A drip coffee maker includes a transformable filter support that is capable of transforming into a plurality of configurations to support different sizes and/or profiles of coffee filters and/or to support different types of coffee brewing operations. In some instances, for example, a transformable filter support may be configured to include one configuration suitable for supporting a narrow-profile cone filter when brewing a single cup and/or lower volume of coffee, as well as another configuration suitable for supporting a wide-profile basket filter when brewing a full pot and/or greater volume of coffee.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drip coffee maker, comprising:
 a brew basket configured to house coffee grounds during brewing, the brew basket including an outlet proximate a bottom thereof through which coffee is dispensed;   a water dispenser disposed upstream of the brew basket and configured to supply heated water to the brew basket to bring the heated water into contact with the coffee grounds to perform a drip coffee brewing operation; and   a transformable filter support disposed in the brew basket to support a filter, the transformable filter support configured to transform between a plurality of different configurations for use with different coffee brewing operations.   
     
     
         2 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different configurations different from one another based on cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         3 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different configurations different from one another based on brewing operation type. 
     
     
         4 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different configurations different from one another based on brewing volume. 
     
     
         5 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different configurations different from one another based on size and/or shape of filter supported by the transformable filter support. 
     
     
         6 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of different configurations include a first configuration configured to support a narrow-profile cone filter and a second configuration configured to support a wide-profile basket filter. 
     
     
         7 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 1 , wherein the transformable filter support includes a frame, the frame including:
 a top member;   a bottom member; and   a plurality of hinged legs, each hinged leg secured to and extending between the top and bottom members and including inwardly-facing surfaces configured to support the filter in the transformable filter support.   
     
     
         8 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 7 , wherein each hinged leg includes first and second leg segments rotatably coupled to one another through a hinge, the first leg segment rotatably coupled to the top member and the second leg segment rotatably coupled to the bottom member. 
     
     
         9 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 8 , wherein each hinged leg further includes a longitudinal slot, and the transformable filter support further includes an alignment ring extending through the longitudinal a lot of each hinged leg to align the plurality of legs with one another. 
     
     
         10 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 9 , wherein the top member includes a top ring and the bottom member includes a bottom ring, wherein the first leg segment of each leg is rotatably coupled to the top ring and the second leg segment of each leg is rotatably coupled to the bottom ring. 
     
     
         11 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 7 , wherein the transformable filter support further includes a liner supported within the frame and including a flexible sidewall and an outlet configured to convey brewed coffee to the outlet of the brew basket. 
     
     
         12 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 11 , wherein the liner is secured to each of the plurality of hinged legs. 
     
     
         13 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 11 , wherein the liner is formed from an elastic material and is biased to a first configuration of the plurality of different configurations when in an undisturbed state such that transformation of the transformable filter support to a second configuration of the plurality of different configurations deforms and loads the liner. 
     
     
         14 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 13 , wherein the first configuration is an extended configuration and the second configuration is a compressed configuration, wherein when in the extended configuration the top member is further away from the bottom member than when in the compressed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 13 , wherein the brew basket includes a plurality of inwardly-projecting vertical columns and the top member includes a plurality of slots configured to receive the plurality of inwardly-projecting vertical columns when the transformable filter support is transforming between the first and second configurations, wherein at least a portion of the top member is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis when the transformable filter support is in the second configuration to move the plurality of slots out of alignment with the plurality of inwardly-projecting vertical columns and thereby maintain the transformable filter support in the second configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of inwardly-projecting vertical columns includes an intermediate slot configured to maintain the transformable filter support in a third configuration that is intermediate the first and second configurations. 
     
     
         17 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different configurations includes first and second configurations, wherein the transformable filter support is biased to the first configuration, and wherein the transformable filter support further includes a hook and release mechanism configured to releasably hold the transformable filter support in the second configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different configurations includes first and second configurations, wherein the transformable filter support is biased to the first configuration, and wherein the transformable filter support further includes a press release loop mechanism configured to toggle the transformable filter support between the first and second configurations when pressed. 
     
     
         19 . The drip coffee maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different configurations includes first and second configurations, and wherein the transformable filter support further includes an automatic lift mechanism including an electronically-controlled drive configured to move the transformable filter support between the first and second configurations. 
     
     
         20 . A transformable filter support for use in a brew basket of a drip coffee maker, comprising:
 a frame configured to be received in the brew basket, the frame including:
 a top member; 
 a bottom member; and 
 a plurality of hinged legs, each hinged leg secured to and extending between the top and bottom members and including inwardly-facing surfaces configured to support the filter in the transformable filter support; and 
   a liner supported within the frame and including a flexible sidewall and an outlet configured to convey brewed coffee to an outlet of a brew basket;   wherein the top and bottom members are movable relative to one another to transform the transformable filter support between a plurality of different configurations for use with different coffee brewing operations.